MACOMB, Ill. - The Western Illinois softball team hosts IUPUI in its last home series
on April 28-29 with a number of promotional events taking place at Mary
Ellen McKee Stadium, including a special appearance by the Dallas
Cowboys' Jason Williams.

The Westerwinds (25-17, 15-2 Summit League) are coming off a series sweep of South Dakota State on April 24-25 and look to stay in first place in The Summit League as they battle with the Jaguars (3-47, 1-20 Summit League) this week.

The Promotions

On Tuesday, April 28, the Western Illinois softball team is inviting professors out for its doubleheader beginning at 3 p.m. for "Professor Days". Professors receive FREE admission as well as free admission for their families by showing their WIU employee ID at the ticket table.The "Professor Days" promotion is also good for admission into Wednesday's game with IUPUI.

Throwing out the ceremonial first pitch for game one of the doubleheader on Tuesday are Dr. Jean Wolf, Dr. Greg Montalvo, Dr. Laura Finch and Dr. Tom Cody.

To start the the second game of the doubleheader, Williams will be throwing out the ceremonial first pitch. The Chicago, Ill., native was recently drafted by the Dallas Cowboys as the 69th overall pick of the NFL Draft on April 26. Williams was the highest drafted FCS player and became the highest drafted player in Leatherneck history when the Cowboys took Williams as their first pick of the 2009 NFL draft. After Williams throws out the first pitch, he will sign a limited number of souvenir softballs and toss them into the stands for a few lucky fans who can catch one!

Scouting IUPUIThe Jaguars were swept by UMKC in a three-game series on April 24-25 in Indianapolis, Ind.

Mia Ettl leads the offense as she has a team-high 34 RBIs with 48 hits and 22 runs. Amy Raker has chipped in with 48 hits and 25 RBIs and Sarah Oppelt has added 48 hits and 23 runs for the Jaguars this year.

Raker has also been helping her team with the pitching duties, pitching a team-high 123.2 innings with a team-best 5.04 ERA. Samantha Bumbau has added 57 strikeouts in 101.1 innings of action. Last time out against the JaguarsThe last time these two teams met was on Feb. 8 2009, as the Westerwinds defeated the Jaguars, 8-3, in the Country Inn and Suites Softball Invitational.

Erin Schlotfeldt led four different players who recorded two hits in the game as she paced the offense with two hits and two RBIs. Lauren Furgala went 2-for-3 at the plate with two runs and an RBI and Michelle Prieto added two hits, a run and an RBI.

Freshman Ashley Campbell picked up her first career win from the circle, throwing one strikeout and only allowing two walks in the complete-game performance.

Review

Ferguson earns Summit League Pitcher of the Week honors for the second consecutive weekKamren Ferguson takes home the award for the second
consecutive week after posting a 3-0 mark last week against
SIU-Edwardsville and South Dakota State with a .37 ERA in 19 innings of
work. In the non-conference tilt with the Cougars, she threw five
strikeouts and allowed only two hits in seven innings of work. In the
7-2 victory over South Dakota State, the Clinton, Ill., native, recorded five strikeouts
and only gave up one hit. She threw two strikeouts and did not walk any
batters in the final win against the Jackrabbits, 10-0 (5).

For the season, she has a team-best 2.13 ERA with 109 strikeouts and
only 44 walks and currently has only allowed two earned run in her last
43.2 innings work. In Summit League games only, the senior has a
league-best 11-1 record with a 1.69 ERA with 61 strikeouts.

Against the Jackrabbits

The Westerwinds swept South Dakota State in Brookings, S.D., to improve
to 15-2 in Summit League action on April 24-25. The Western offense out
scored the Jackrabbits (9-36, 6-12 Summit League) by 19 in the sweep
(22-3).

Ferguson picked up the win from the circle, throwing five strikeouts and only allowing one hit in the complete-game performance.

Game twoThe Western offense used a balanced scoring attack as eight players recorded a hit, five players scored a run and four players recorded an RBI. Lori Pankratz led the way with a 3-for-3 at the place performance with two RBIs. Furgala added two hits, one run and an RBI and Beth Golitko chipped in with two hits and a run.

Pankratz (5-7) got the start and the win from the circle, throwing eight strikeouts and only allowing four hits in five innings of work. Campbell picked up her second save of the season, throwing four strikeouts and allowing one hit in the last two innings of the game.

Game threeFerguson (15-7) picked up her second win in two days as she threw two strikeouts and allowed zero walks in five innings of work.

Golitko paced the offense as she went 3-for-3 at the plate with five RBIs and two runs. Furgala chipped in with two hits, two runs and two RBIs and DePolo and Goss added two hits and two RBIs each.

Up Next

Series Finale at IPFWAfter the series with IUPUI, the Westerwinds finish the season on the road against IPFW in their last Summit League series of the year on May 1-2 at Outdoor Sports Complex.